How Colorado state tax withholding works
Colorado taxes wage income, so your employer withholds Colorado income tax from each paycheck in addition to federal tax. You tell your employer how much to withhold on Form DR 0004 (Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate), the state’s counterpart to the federal Form W-4.
For 2026, Colorado applies a flat 4.4% rate to your taxable wages, after a standard deduction of $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (married filing jointly).
Enter your pay above to see your estimated Colorado withholding per paycheck and per year, alongside your federal withholding and the exact W-4 entries.
Colorado vs. federal withholding
Your Colorado and federal withholding are figured separately. Federal withholding follows the IRS Publication 15-T tables and your Form W-4; Colorado withholding follows the state’s own rates and your Form DR 0004. Getting one right doesn’t guarantee the other — this calculator handles both so you don’t owe a surprise bill to either the IRS or Colorado.
Important Colorado notes
- Colorado applies a flat 4.40% rate to taxable income (federal taxable income basis).
Frequently asked questions
Sources & disclaimer
Federal figures use the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T. Colorado withholding is based on the 2026 Colorado income-tax structure; confirm exact figures and complete Form DR 0004 at the tax.colorado.gov website.
This tool provides estimates for educational purposes and is not tax advice. State withholding is modeled from the state’s income-tax rules and may differ from the exact wage-bracket tables your employer uses. Verify against your pay stub and consult a qualified tax professional before submitting your W-4 or Form DR 0004.